Flashback: The High Line In 2002
19 photos
<p>Back in 2002, the High Line was completely undeveloped. Grass and native flowers grew on the track bed. Fences had been put up to block trespassing, but holes had been cut in all of them. This picture was taken near the North end of the line, around 30th Street.</p>
<p>The trackbedâthis is on the Stage 3 section of the High Line, above 30th Streetâstill looks like this today, because it hasn't been redeveloped yet.</p>
<p>Lots of flowers bloomed on the line each spring.</p>
<p>Many of the adjoining apartment buildings were using the High Line as a kind of backyard. People had planted small gardens, and moved BBQs out there. </p>
<p>This is the same spot as <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/05/21/exclusive_more_unauthorized_picture.php#photo-4">the "Fly-Over" in Phase II</a> of the Highline. </p>
<p>Often you'd find homeless guys and high school kids drinking on the line.</p>
<p>Looking north around 24th Street.</p>
<p>The famous Revs/Cost mural on 23rd Street. It's now mostly been buffed.</p>
<p>More graffiti near 23rd Street.</p>
<p>Looking south, from around 19th Street. This is very close to where the IAC Buidling went up years later.</p>
<p>The underpass at 14th Street.</p>
<p>Inside the underpass at 14thâlots of discarded metal, construction debris, and graffiti.</p>
<p>Near 15th Streetânote the blue building in the foreground, which has since been demolished.</p>
<p>South of 14th Street, the line became perilousâit was much more fenced off, and the surrounding buildings had dumped lots of debris on to the tracks. This is looking north from near Little West 12th- the Standard Hotel would replace this scene.</p>
<p>Signs from the local meatpackersâthe line was originally put up to service the meatpacking district and surrounding factories.</p>
<p>Looking north from West 13th. </p>
<p>This is one of the old staircases that used to give access to the lineâaround 17th Street. It was very shaky, with missing steps. If you made it down, you had to dash through a city parking lot without being caught. </p>
<p>One last look at the old line- from the Meatpacking District. </p>